Macro Monday

Guess on above?

Another hint.

Answer: the rusted out door knob to an old farm shed.

Andy

Air Show - Team RV

Not sure where the name ("Team RV") comes from, but this group did a nice, colorful job at the Cherry Festival this year.
Andy

Cat-Nap Wednesday

Getting sleepy...

...resting...

...asleep, nose tucked.

Andy

Macro Monday

Is the above something edible?

If not edible to us, then to something else? (I love the shadow above!)

If you guessed "Nursery Web Spider" then you are not only good at this, but possibly one who has a broad food palate.  ;->

Bon appetit!

Andy

Air Show - Coast Guard

At each Cherry Festival, the U.S. Coast Guard performs a life saving demonstration. It's pretty amazing what these guys can do. You get a little idea from these pix.
Andy

Look close--do you see the "Guard" waving from inside?

Cat Nap Wednesday

 Above is a picture of Katie after her morning Cat-nip!! 

This picture was right after her "brunch," (aka: a bit of canned food to be served promptly at 10:30. And yes, she knows when it's 10:30!) when she meows and makes herself look cute, so I will pet her before she settles in for her nap! 

~Michele

Macro Monday

Got any ideas on the above subject?

Does the next above shot help?

The pic above is a giveaway.

It's a pipe or part of an agricultural irrigation system for processing cherries!

Andy

Short-Eared Owls??

First, we need to take back our last owl identification on our recent post. The owl family is NOT that of a Barred Owl. I was lucky enough to take many more pictures and have researched several sources. 

I am now waiting for the expert opinion of our good friend, Rebecca Lessard, the Director of Wings of Wonder. WOW is a wonderful organization devoted to the rehabilitation and release of injured raptors along with holding about 100 educational programs a year with permanently disables birds. Rebecca does a fabulous job and is an inspiration; check out her sites here:
http://www.wingsofwonder.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wings-of-Wonder/105315512891121

This site (www.allaboutbirds.org) is the best overall source we found to help identify this owl. If we are correct (this time!) our locally produced birding book states that the ground nesting Short-Eared Owl is a: "Very rare transient...now listed as an endangered species in Michigan..." This book, however, was published in 1994 and the information might be out of date. 

Also, check out the wiki; always a good place to start.

Hope you like the pix!
Andy

Air Show - Black Diamond Jet Team

More shots from the National Cherry Festival air show compliments of the Black Diamond Jet Team.
Andy

Seen through a bay-side street lamp, a seagull looks as if to join the formation.

No crashes! Just looks that way...

Cat Nap Wednesday

Whenever I see Katie with this toy (aka: Abby's baby) it makes me think back to when we first brought Katie home. Abby was not happy about it and let us know. After few weeks, Abby realized Katie wasn't going anywhere. Abby was just starting to warm up to her when, one day, Katie came prancing in the room carrying "Abby's baby," which was Abby's favorite toy. Like a child, Abby got so mad. She retreated to her corner and scowled. I jumped in the car, headed to "Enerdyne" and, lucky for me, they had one left in a different shape and color. Fifteen minutes later, back at home, Abby was still in the corner and Katie still playing. I made a big deal presenting the new toy to Abby and happily, all was well. Oddly, although they shared all their other toys, from that day forward, they each only played with their own "baby!" Hee hee ... cats are so funny!

 ~Michele

Air Show-Transonic Flow Patterns

The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City brings an air show each year. Here are some shots I took of the F-18 Hornet and, luckily, got several of its transonic flow patterns.
Andy

Barred Owls (Instead of Macro Monday)

One of the babies blending perfectly and amazingly with the tree trunk. 

We wanted to post this barred owl family as soon as we could. We'll return to the regularly scheduled programming (Macro Monday) next week. Recently we found a family of barred owls within a quarter mile or so from our house. 

Siblings.

These are NOT great shots, but we thought them great moments. They were screeching at each other as they "awoke" for the evening hunt. We saw at least 4. If we get better pix we'll post more. Until then, we'll keep observing their nesting area and enjoying any peek we get.


Andy

A bad pic of one of the parents; beak clicking.